Nottingham Theatre Royal – until Saturday 3 August 2024
Reviewed by Amy V Gathercole
3***
“Full of nostalgia, iconic 80s music and a timeless love story – it’s a fun night out”
The surprising scene where Richard Gere sweeps up his love interest in ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’, is arguably one of the more famous and memorable scenes in 80’s cinema.
Zach Mayo (Luke Baker) is a lad who’s been dealt one of the tougher hands in life and he just wants to show that he can better himself. He wants to prove everyone else wrong (especially his absent Father Byron Mayo (Tim Rogers), when he enlists in the programme with a dream of learning to fly jets, he’s going for all-or-nothing.
He’s one of many in the competitive and very challenging programme, and no one— including him has much confidence that he will make it through.
Zach is joined by several others including Seegar (Olivia Foster-Brown), a woman with a dream to do it better than the boys and escape her circumstances.
Sid (Paul French) is a troubled young man who desperately tries to please his parents, no matter what the cost to himself as he attempts to fill his brother’s shoes, literally.
They’re all in the care of Sergeant Foley (Jamal Crawford) – who anyone who saw the panto at this venue last winter, may recognise as Prince Charming?
Here, he’s bitter, he’s truly mean, and he’s there to ensure the cadets have what it takes to be an asset to their country and get the best out of them. Through commanding tortuous training exercises and deadly drills. He ultimately attempts to obtain their ‘DOR’ (drop on request) from the programme.
Jamal was my favourite performance in the show with his brutal drills, determination and charisma shining though.
One night Zach meets a local girl, Paula (Georgia Lennon) who’s got dreams a lot bigger than her home town and craves excitement and love. Above all else she doesn’t want to follow in her mother’s (Melanie Mason) footsteps and make the same mistakes she did.
Sparks attempt to fly but the chemistry between the two leads sadly doesn’t quite lift us up where we belong. Other romances are more convincing.
With Paula falling for troubled Zach, her best friend Lynette (Sinead Long) is also seeking her ticket out of small-time life in Pensacola, Florida. Lynette wants to marry a pilot to end her less-than-lovely life as ‘trailer trash’ and desires to be allowed to spread her own wings by marrying one of the flyboys. Enter Sid as her romantic fling.
Packed with iconic 80s pop and rock songs including Madonna’s ‘Material Girl’, Bon Jovi’s
‘Living on a Prayer’ and Blondie’s ‘Heart of Glass’ plus many more you’re bound to
recognise – the production has wholeheartedly embraced the nostalgia!
With an industrial looking and feeling set that constantly transforms into a naval camp and bunks to various town bars and a few other settings. It’s a slick set with a very clever build for its multi-purpose use.
Personally, I think I’ve had enough of this concept of the jukebox musical. This show, the latest in a long line and it’s starting to feel a little lazy and formulaic.
There were also a couple of jarring moments in the show to gain audience participation, by encouraging them to clap along with the action on stage, which removed some of the immersion for me!
Telling a story that’s well and truly set around the concept of the working class fighting for their own slice of the ‘American Dream’. This show absolutely nails the 80s aesthetic and nostalgia. The costuming from Michael Taylor, alongside his strong set vision, is impressive, as are the hair, make-up, and wigs from Sam Cox.
If you always wanted a handsome Richard Gere to sweep you up in your own fairytale and love an underdog story, grab tickets.